Star Gods, стр. 14

I hear a splash as I fade in and find myself standing in the middle of a very large puddle. Well, this is definitely happening tonight and I only have today to find where. I scan the alley and the large puddles, look at the positions of the dumpsters and the backdoors of the businesses and find all the doors steel gray; no red in sight. I huff out a breath and jog knowing Tyce is probably on the phone right now with Ashe and I wonder if they’ll come and look for me, or just wait me out.

I’m hoping for the latter.

I finish my surveillance of the alley closest to our garage, and travel to the backend of the mall where I don’t frequent and get a waft of the unmistakable smell of fresh paint. I peer down the alley to see a man painting the backdoor of the Yoga Center red.

Bingo!

When I step closer, I notice every door before this one is also red. I scratch the top of my head as I stare at each one. Okay, which one has a new dumpster?

“You need something kid?” The painter is staring at me, his brush poised over the door.

“Um, yeah, I was supposed to meet up with someone at the back entrance to their new shop with a red door. Any idea where that would be?”

He chuckles and points the opposite direction. “Check down there…”

I’m already running and his voice fades away. I stop once I round the bend, spotting a young woman I don’t recognize. She’s sweeping the alleyway in front of what used to be a flower shop, a newer dumpster sitting to the side of the door, and my pulse stops. This is it. I blow out a nervous breath. Can it really be this easy? Will I find the girl before she’s attacked?

“Excuse me,” I say. The young woman stops and places her hand on top of the broom handle. Her chestnut brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, her warm brown eyes smiling over a nose splattered with tiny freckles. She’s younger than I thought, probably around Ashe’s age. “My cousin and I got separated back there.” I hook a thumb behind me. “I thought maybe she stepped into the alley. She’s from out of town and this area isn’t familiar to her.”

“Why aren’t you in school?”

“School’s out for the day.”

“Hmm,” she mutters. “What does your cousin look like?”

“She’s shorter than me, long honey-brown hair with bangs cut at an angle, wearing an oversized jean jacket.”

“I’m sorry, I haven’t seen her.” She narrows her eyes at me. “You look familiar.”

I raise an eyebrow. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

She taps a finger on the end of the broom and a smile flickers across her pretty lips. “You must be one of Ashe’s brothers.”

Huh, Ashe speaking to a girl about his family. Interesting. “Yeah, I’m his youngest brother, Zeke.”

She extends her right hand. “Nice to meet you, Zeke. I’m Abby, owner of what’s soon to be the Book Nook.”

I shake her hand hoping mine isn’t damp with nervous sweat. “Nice to meet you too, Abby.”

She points to my forehead. “You’re the one who got attacked.”

“Um, yeah.”

“They get the guys who attacked you?” Abby asks, sweeping again.

“Not yet.” I glance both ways down the alley.

“I’m keeping you from finding your cousin, I’m sorry. I’ll send her to the garage if I see her.”

“Thanks, Abby, I appreciate it. Welcome to the neighborhood.” I lift my hand in a goodbye wave.

“Stop in anytime,” she calls.

I drag my fingers through my hair as I walk briskly away in both excitement and frustration. I found the where. I hadn’t thought it would be this easy, now what am I going to do for the next two to three hours?

The slam of a dumpster lid draws my attention and there’s Claire, standing with her hands on her hips wearing a scowl. Crap, I hadn’t realized how close I was to the bakery.

“Zeke Cartwright,” she says, and I wait for her to wag a finger at me.

“Claire Appleton.” I stop in front of her and stuff my hands into my pockets.

“Why aren’t you answering your cell?”

I cringe. “Just tell Tyce I’m fine.”

She plants a hand on my chest preventing me from walking away. “What’s going on, Zeke? And don’t tell me nothing when something is written all over your face.”

I gaze at her from the corner of my eye. Looking for this girl without my brothers is tearing me up inside. What if something happens to me—don’t my brothers deserve to know why? I look to Claire and the concern etched across her face. Neil certainly didn’t mean I couldn’t talk this through with a human, right? “Can we talk inside?”

Surprise travels across her face. I don’t think I gave her the answer she was expecting.

“Come on.” She leads the way to the backdoor. “You better have a good explanation or I’m calling Tyce.”

“I do.”

She puts a finger to her lips with one hand, and stops me with her other, as I quietly pull the door closed. “Do that thing you do and wait for me upstairs. I need to talk to Papa and I’ll be right up.”

I smirk, looking down at her hand on my arm. “You’ll only go with me,” I whisper.

She rolls her eyes and moves away.

I smile and vanish, reappearing in their cozy apartment above the bakery. The smell of baked bread lingers, but doesn’t overpower, as I silently pull out a stool at their counter. The once white walls are now a clean bright yellow, making me smile with approval. Their new appliances gleam, and Claire’s herb garden grows healthily green in a plastic container fastened to the window above the sink.

Claire’s jogging footsteps draw my attention to their apartment door; she comes in and leans back against it, crossing her arms. “First, very cool ability—I want to do what you can do. Second, spill, you have